Delmar answers, “come on in boys, the waters fine!"

Standing Firm in Your Faith

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6, NIV)

Are you believing that God will do something specific in your life today? Oftentimes, when we are standing in faith, the storms of life will blow. Things will come against us that try to knock our faith down. But, I to encourage you to stand strong in your faith and in your thinking so that you can be effective and see your dreams and desires come to pass.

Scripture tells us that if we go back and forth on what we believe, we are unstable and ineffective. Instead, we have to be fully persuaded that the Word of God is true no matter what we see. The way you stand firm in your faith is by staying focused on God instead of your circumstances. Sing praises to Him throughout the day and guard the words that come out of your mouth. When you stand firm in your faith, you have peace. You have a supernatural rest because you know God is in complete control. You trust Him completely. Today, stand firm in your faith, watch your words, and know that He is leading you into victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, today I praise You and honor You because You are God. I put my faith and trust in You knowing that You are working behind the scenes in my life. Thank You for making a way when there seems to be no way and opening doors of victory in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The God of Comfort

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you...” (Isaiah 66:13, NIV)

Oftentimes, when people face challenges, they seek comfort in things that are familiar. It may be work, an activity, or a relationship; and of course, we all know about “comfort food.” But those things only bring temporary comfort. True comfort is found in a personal relationship with God in heaven through His Son, Jesus.

According to Webster’s dictionary, comfort means to give strength and hope; to ease grief or trouble. No matter what difficulty you may be facing today, God wants to bring you comfort. Like a mother cares for her child, He longs to give you strength, hope and confidence.

Today, make the decision to put Him first in every area of your life. Let go of those things you know are holding you back. Let Him bring you comfort by allowing Him to be Lord over all the areas of your heart. As you surrender to His grace, you will be filled with His peace and joy. You’ll receive His comfort and be empowered to overcome in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I come to You today and invite You to fill my whole being. Give me Your comfort and strength and empower me by Your Holy Spirit to live in the victory You have planned for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Speaking the Blessing

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“The tongue has the power of life and death...” (Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

Have you thought about the people in your life who need your blessing? They need your approval. They need to hear you say, “I’m proud of you. You’re going to do great things.” That’s speaking the blessing. That’s releasing favor into their future. When you say to the people you love, “I’m so glad you’re in my life. You mean the world to me,” you just gave them the blessing. When you tell one of your employees, coworkers or a student, “You amaze me with your ability. You have such a bright future,” those are not just nice compliments. When you speak the blessing, you’re releasing God’s wisdom, protection, favor and abundance into their future. You can literally help shape their destiny. One word of encouragement, one word of approval can be what helps them to really step up to who God created them to be.

Today, choose to speak the blessing. Sow good seeds into the lives of the people you love. Remember, what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. As you sow the blessing, you’ll reap the blessing and experience His victory and favor all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Dear Jesus, thank You for empowering me with Your love, grace and favor today. Show me ways that I can be a blessing and speak the blessing over the people I encounter today. Use me for Your glory in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

He Rejoices Over You

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

So many people in this day and age never received the blessing from their mother or father. They never felt like they received the approval and encouragement they so deeply desired. If that’s you today, the good news is that when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become His child. Your earthly father may not have given you his blessing, but your heavenly Father is rejoicing over you! He’s saying, “I’m proud of you. I love you. You are amazing. You are talented. You are beautiful. You’re going to do great things in life!” He’s releasing favor and hope into your future.

Today, no matter what’s happened in your past, no matter what anybody else has said to you or about you, know that your Father God loves you with an everlasting love. He’s proud of you, and He is singing over you. Receive His love today. Receive His approval today. Receive hope today. Have confidence and strength to move forward because you have the blessing of your heavenly Father!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for loving me today. Thank You for choosing me and approving me. I receive Your love and blessing. Keep me close to You. Show me Your ways so that I can walk with You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Don’t Water Down Your Dreams

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” (Romans 3:3, KJV)

Oftentimes, people allow the opinions of others to hold them back and water down their dreams. But, we have to realize that there will always be critics and naysayers in life. One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don’t have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don’t set the limits for your life — you do! It’s not what others say about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself. When God puts a promise in your heart, it’s not up to other people to bring it to pass, it’s up to you!

In today’s verse, the apostle Paul is saying, “It doesn’t matter if other people don’t believe. Their unbelief is not going to keep me from believing in my dreams.” In other words, you don’t need everyone else to validate you. You only have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to order your steps.

Today, know that God sees the hidden treasures inside of you. He wants to bring those treasures out and make your dreams reality. Don’t water down your dreams. Have confidence today because He believes in you, and He is making a way for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for believing in me. Thank You for placing the dreams and desires in my heart and for enabling them to come to pass. Help me to see the good plans You have for me so I can confidently fulfill my destiny. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Who Told You ?

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth” (1 Samuel 17:33, NIV)

Are you stuck in a rut today because of the negative words that have been spoken over you in the past? In today’s verse, we see that before David faced Goliath, he heard the accusing voices. But instead of listening to what others said, he chose to listen to what God said. He knew he was called, chosen and equipped to defeat that giant; and today, you are called, chosen and equipped for victory, too!

Remember what God says, “I am who God says I am.” What we’re saying in effect is “I am not who my chemistry teacher says I am.” “I am not who my ex-husband or ex-wife says I am.” “I am not who my critics say I am,” and nowadays, “I am not who the bloggers say I am.” “I am who God says I am.” That means we are anointed. We are equipped. We are talented. We are redeemed. We are blessed. We have the favor of God!

Today, if you’ve been held back by negative words spoken over you, ask yourself, “Who told me I’m not tall enough?” “Who told me I’m just average?” “Who told me that I’m not that talented?” Let go and forgive those people. Stop listening to the wrong voices and take the limits off of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which so beautifully directs my steps. Today I step forward in confidence knowing that You are with me. I shake off negative words from the past and choose to forgive those who have hurt me. Thank You for leading me into victory! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The New Has Come

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Everyone loves to get something new. But as a believer in Jesus, you’re not only getting something new, you are something new. You are a brand new creation! Your eternal being, your spirit, is re-created in Christ. The old is gone, the new has come! You may not necessarily feel new right away. That’s because the Bible tells us that we are to “work out” our salvation. That means you have to retrain your body and mind to act, think, speak and live according to God’s ways instead of the old habits you used to have. Don’t ever get stuck in the rut of thinking, “I’ll never change...that’s just the way I am.” No, the Bible says that the Spirit of God aids us in our weakness. He gives us strength to overcome. He empowers us to live as more than conquerors in this life.

Is there something you want to change in your life today? If you’ve received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then start declaring, “I am a new creation in Christ! I am empowered to overcome! I am equipped to walk in the new, abundant life the Lord has in store for me!"

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for making me a new creation. Thank You for empowering me to live as an overcomer. I give this day to You and ask that You help me to fully understand the plan You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Something Big is Coming Your Way

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT)

The God we serve is not a small God. His plan for your life is not for you to reach one level, get stuck and stay there for 30 or 40 years. His plan is to increase you, open new doors before you, and take you places that you’ve never imagined. He has something big in your future! He’s already planned out big breaks, big opportunities and big ideas for you. You may have seen God’s goodness in the past, but you have not touched the surface of what God has in your future! God is about to do a new thing!

And what I sense in my spirit is the new thing is going to be far greater than you’ve ever seen before. It’s going to be bigger than you imagined. It’s going to be more rewarding than you thought possible. Now you’ve got to come into agreement and say, “Yes, God, this is for me today. I’m not going to get stuck where I am. I’m not going to go around with little dreams, little goals. I know You’re a big God, and You have something big coming my way!”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for loving me and choosing me for Your good purposes. I choose to set my affection on You today knowing that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Give me Your peace and strength as I wait patiently on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ask of Me

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8, NIV)

Did you know it pleases God when we pray bold prayers and ask Him for big things? The God we serve doesn’t want us to just barely get by in life. He wants us to thrive and experience the fullness of His blessing. He wants us to not only have our needs met, but be in a position to reach out and help meet the needs of others, too!

When we ask God for something, a supernatural door is opened. We are showing our faith in Him, and faith gives God something to work with. In fact, scripture says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. He wants us to come to Him and know His goodness. He wants us to believe that He is good and that He has good things in store for us.

Today, I encourage you to get bold with your prayers. Ask God for big things. Believe that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Put your faith to work because God is faithful. He has big things in store for you and promises to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that you can ever imagine!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I come to You with an attitude of faith and expectancy. You said that if I ask anything according to Your will, it will be done. So I thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life knowing that You are doing a good work in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Unexpected Blessings

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 28:2, NIV)

God wants to surprise you with His blessings today! I hear testimonies all the time of what God is doing suddenly in the lives of His people. Even recently, a man told me how he got a check in the mail unexpectedly, an inheritance from a loved one that he never even met. With that one check, he was able to pay off his house which was a desire of his heart. He thought it was going to take him 30 years, but God had other plans. It happened in a fraction of the time!

Friend, when you’re in covenant with God, when you keep His commands and honor Him with your tithes and offerings, you are positioning yourself under an open window of heaven. Why don’t you take the limits off your life by stepping out and obeying God? Then, keep an attitude of faith and expectancy because He is good. He loves you with an everlasting love, and He is ready to surprise you with His unexpected blessings!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Gracious heavenly Father, I come before You with an open and humble heart. Today I surrender all of my questions, cares and concerns because I know You care for me. Thank You for surprising me with Your love and blessings today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.